Oral Thornton Gillespie Jr. “O.T.”, 90, passed away on Monday, May 27, 2024, at his home. He was born in Falmouth on August 1, 1933, son of the late Oral T. Sr. and Gertrude Carr Gillespie.
O.T. began working for Tom Moreland in his drug store at the age of 14. After graduating from Falmouth High School in 1952, Tom helped O.T. attend pharmacy school. From 1952-1954, O.T. attended the pharmacy school in Louisville, returning to Falmouth on many weekends to work for Tom. In 1954, he was called to service in the US Army. Learning that O.T. could type, he served for 2 years as a clerk at the Army headquarters in Germany. Once returning home, he resumed his studies in pharmacy school at its new location in Lexington at the University of Kentucky from which he graduated in 1959. Upon graduation, he returned to Falmouth to begin his career as a pharmacist with his mentor Tom Moreland. He was a member of Falmouth United Methodist Church, served on the Falmouth City Council for 15 years, a member of The Pendleton County Country Club Board, 32nd degree Masonry and helped in founding the Kentucky Wool Festival. He was also very musically inclined playing the Jews harp, harmonica and dulcimer.
In addition to his parents, O.T. is preceded in death by his siblings Virginia Mask, Chris Gillespie and Juanita Thompson.
Survivors include his wife Priscilla “Sally” Litke Gillespie; children Coral Gay (Rob) Fischesser, Carlton Gillespie, Clarita (Sean) Murphy and Charles Gillespie; 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6 at the Peoples Funeral Home in Butler. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. and continue until the time of the service.